HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgenda Report - April 30, 2019 B-01 SMAGENDA ITEM B-l
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AGENDA TITLE:
MEETING DATE:
PREPARED BY:
Provide Direction on Fourth of July Events
April 30, 2019
City Manager
RECOMMENDED AGTION:
BACKGROUN D I NFORMATION
Provide direction on Fourth of July events.
The City has provided a Fourth of July program at Lodi Lake Park
since 2007 after a local service group decided it would no longer
provide fireworks and activities after 13 years of doing so.
From the 1940s until 1993, the City provided a fireworks show at Lodi Lake Park. The park was open to
the public during those years without fencing. Other activities over the years have included boat races
and, for the last 5O-plus years, a community pancake breakfast provided by the Kiwanis Club. A handful
of fights led to the event being turned over to the Lodi-Tokay Rotary Club in 1994, and the creation of the
Oooh Ahhh Festival, which included fencing the park and charging admission each Fourth of July through
2006.
The City resumed managing the event and continued fencing the park, with police screening entrants for
weapons, alcohol and dangerous items to ensure visitor safety. The cost to fence the park in 2018 was
$3,900, and approximately the same amount in 2017. Estimated attendance within the park for the
fireworks show is 5,000 to 7,500 people.
Recently, the Parks Division solicited bids from vendors for the cost to fence the park this July, and the
responses were far higher than anticipated. The low bid was from last year's vendor in the amount of
$10,335.84, an increase of 165 percent. The vendor indicated steel tariffs have raised the price of the
materials used to fabricate the fencing. A second bid was slightly higher and a third was more than
double the low bid.
ln the meantime, PRCS has solicited and received proposals for a fireworks show at an all-in cost of
$16,000, as in recent years. ln light of the significantly higher costs for fencing, however, staff believes
additional Council direction is needed before moving fonuard with plans and a fireworks contract for the
2019 Fourth of July events, as materials and supplies costs are already nearly $30,000, factoring in the
cost of additional portable toilets ($1,400 in 2018). Staff is not proposing an entrance fee in light of the
Council's direction in 2014 to keep the event free to the public.
The Police Department has long taken the position that if the City continues with providing fireworks after
sunset, the park should be fenced to enhance safety. Alternatives include:
I Appropriating additionalfunds ($6,436 more than last year) in FY 2019120for the cost of fencing
APPROVED
Stephen Manager
t Eliminate fencing, but place additional police on patrol at a cost that equals previous years'
fencing costst Eliminating the fireworks show, keeping the pancake breakfast and operating the park normally,
closing at duskr Cutting the cost of the fireworks show, reducing its length from the current approximately 18-20
minutes to a short time, to offset some increase in fencing (will be difficult to accomplish as some
vendors will not produce a Fourth of July show for less than $15,000)I Other alternatives as the Council sees fit
Total direct costs for the event will exceed $50,000, which includes overtime for public safety, Public
Works and Parks, Recreation and Cultural Services staff. Revenue from vendors is minimal.
Anticipated direct cost for July 4, 2019 are listed in the chart below
Direct expenses Amount
Police overtime $13,000
Parks Division overtime $5,600
Public Works overtime $2,1 00
Fire Department overtime $2.400
Supplies, includinq fencing, port-o-lets $13,800
Fireworks $16,000
Aouatics special event staffinq. overtime $1,000
Total direct expenses $53,900
Direct costs do not take into account staff time planning the event. PRCS, Fire, Police and Public Works
staff spend more than 200 hours preparing for the event at a cost of approximately $10,000. ln addition,
the Parks Division focuses resources at Lodi Lake following the event for additional cleaning and repairs
related to the event.
The cost of the event is roughly $10-$12 per person. Approximately half the attendees are Lodi residents,
based on results of a 2016 gate census.
FISCAL IMPACT Continuing the event as-is will cost at least $6,436 more due to higher
fencing costs.
FUNDING AVAILABLE:Council direction
Andrew Keys
Deputy City Manager/lnternal Services Director
n
City Manager
B -
Pamela Farris
From:
Sent:
To:
Subject:
Pamela Farris
Monday, April29,20L9 8:2L AM
Kathy Polenske; City Council; Steve Schwabauer;Jeff Hood;Janice Magdich
RE: Fencing
Thank you for your email. lt has been received by the City Council and forwarded to the City Manager and Parks,
Recreation and Cultural Services Department for information, response, andf or handling. ln addition, your
correspondence will be provided to Council as a Blue Sheet item for Tuesday's Shirtsleeve Session.
Pam Farris, CMC
Deputy City Clerk
City of Lodi
P.O. Box 3006
Lodi, CA 9524I-I9LO
(20el333-6702
(209) 333-6807 FAX
----Original Message-----
From: Kathy Polenske
Sent: Saturday, April 27,2019 2:O2 PM
To: City Council
Subject: Fencing
Since I am unable to attend the meeting to discuss fencing for the 4th of July event, I have a suggestion in case it hasn't
been looked into. Don't know the cost differential, but consider purchasing it. lf it's owned other city.events can use it
and not have that expense in their budget. I would also make it available for non-city events for rent. This could include
schools, non-profits, churches and other kinds of organizations. There's the issue of storage but I would think that could
be worked out. Perhaps someone w¡th where house space, etc. would donate storage space.
Food for thought,
Kathy Polenske
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